The National tribune., 1887-09-22
tie claim 20 which you refer 10 favorable consid-
tioa.
Very respectfully, JoHS c. BLACK,


The Commissioner is glad 10 say that the
cases Of imposition, where men have sworn TO
falsehOods TO get special action, are compare
lively few; and that in such instances il fol-
lows that whore man falsely states the facts
TO obtain early action, il taints his whole claim
aud fills IL with suspicion when the falsehood
is discovered; for n man who will swear falsely
10 get his claim ahead Of those OF his worthy
comrades will swear falsely TO defraud the Gov
enment out Of his pension in the end. Greedy
and false haste, therefore, sometimes defeats an
entire claim.
There is no reason known now 10 the Com
missioner why any man who is supported by
public charity, necessarily may not at once
have his claim adjudicated and settled; for the
case of every man who is in the pOorhouse
comes precisely under the directions given in
the circular, aud If an inmate of poorhouse
IS unable TO furnish his own proofs. the Special
Examination Division of this Office stands
ready, as il has in the past, at all times TO do
whatever it can TO elicit the truth in any given
claim.
With this statement as TO the methods Of
work in the Bureau add statements showing
the extent Of that work, saying further only
that the exhibit is deeply gratifying.
FOREIGN PENSION SYSTEMS.
On the 18th day Of March, 1887. mailed re-
quests through the Department Of State TO our
various Ministers and Consuls-General accred-
tied TO the Courts OF Great Britain, France, the
German Empire, Russia, Turkey, Italy and
Spain, requesting that they obtain and forward
10 me the fullest possible statements relating
10 the pension laws and administration thereof
OF the various countries 10 which they were
accredited.
The most courteous consideration has been
paid to the requests in every instance, save i'm
the one addressed to the Minister at the Court
Of II. James, and | am enabled 10 report to YOU
a synopsis and statement of the pension laws
Of the various countries above enumerated,
which arc of value for purposes Of comparison
with our own and as establishing the general
Judgment Of civilized Governments in regard
TO pensions.
] have had tmnslations made Of the essential
parts Of the pension codes of the European
powers. ] have prepared briefs of portions Of
these translatious and publish them herewith.
III VIII appear that two bases have been recog-
nized out of which a claim for pension might
rehtlully arise in the case Of almost every CIV
i!izcd power. The first is the mere fact Of
service of the State in military capacity, and
the second is disabement in that service. The
service 10 be the basis of pension must gtDer-
ally have been of very great length rarely
less than 10 and oitener Of 25 and 80 years.
noticeable feature in all Of these pension sys-
TENS rs that they were manifestly prepared
only for regular service troops, although no
discrimination is made between the regular
service troops and the war lovies; but the sys-
tenn which was prepared for the regular army
WAS nj once extended over and applied to the
volunteers and the levies. Very much of the
systems relating to service are wholly inopera-
tive for any but the regular troops. In every
system which have examined length Of time
oil service, whether greater or smaller being es-
tablished as a unit OF time, determining the
right 10 a service pension-he who fell short of
that length Of time is barred from claiming the
benefits Of a service pension and must solely
rely upon tie disability pension; he who ex-
ceeds that unit of time by honorable service is
entitled TO additional pension privileges and
payment; he who greatly distinguished him
sell becomes thereby, in some instances, enti-
tied for lllustrious conduct in behalf of the
State to he specially pensioned, or TO add 10 the
rate of pension allowed him for service. No
instance can be found where pension is allowed
Tor services dishOnorably terminated or marked
by a disTeputable record
The pension has been held up as the secure
establishment in age OF the veteran soldier,
and all Others than the veterans have been
taught by the system that inasmuch as every
man owes his life TO the State the mere tender
OF that allegiance does not give a right TO
pension. A patriotic State cannot afford TO
have IL believed by SIS citizens that for every
performance of duty there shall be more than
such payment rs may be agreed upon at the
time for the service actually rendered; and in
deed the logic of the situation is that if the
State shall el0the, arm, feed and transport its
troops, it may upon emergency demand their
services without other compensation than the
public safety. Such seem 20 be the teaching
and ideas of the foreign pension codes.
The foreign pension codes are based upon this
idea Of the duty owed TO the State, and that
the same is 10 be rendered without regard TO
sFt r.
ice and Of the right Of the State TO demand the
services of every man capable Of bearing arms
without regard TO any other than a disability
pension, and that the pension itself is a mark
OF extreme honor, reward Of long service, or
distinguished ability. Generals, Lieutenant
Generals-every grade OF military officer and
private alille-are borne upon the pension rolls
OF the countries wheretD they are entitled
either by reason Of disabement or as a reward
for faithful and long-continued services
wherein the vigor Of the man has been ex-
| hausted and old age has found the soldier worn
out in the service Of the State.
The pension systems are part Of the military
systems and establishments; are outgrowths
and prol0ngations thereof
] add here the briefs above referred 10. which
while incomplete are the best have been en-
abled TO present within reasonable space.
THE FRENCH SYSTEM.
In France there are two classes of pensions.
The first for service and the second for dis
ability. The minimum service pension is due
upon having served, IL commissioned officer,
30, and il an enlisted man, % years. coupled
with honorable record and discharge
There are hundreds Of notifications Of the
rules aud rates: but the service pension fur
nishes the standard by which all others are
measured ia the French system.
The second or disability pension IS based
upon serious and incurable wounds resulting
from events Of war or incurred in the service
and in line Of duty, or upon serious and incura-
BE disabilities recognized to be from fatigue
and danger incident 10 the service.
The clgssifications Of these disabilities are
/ primarily six.
The first and greatest is for total loss of
1 vision; second, amputation OF two limbs: third.
amputation Of one limb; fourth, complete loss
Of the use of two limbs or disability equiya-
lent thereto: fifth, complete loss Of the use OF
one limb or disability equivalent thereto ;
sixth, all lesser disabilities
The disabilities named in the first five classes
give immediate right 30 pension equivalent
/ 20 the military service pension. Those of the
/ sixth class give title under the following con-
\ ditions:
a. To commissioned officers aud others of a
relative rank If they are rendered permanently
unfit Cor active service: aud
% To persons below the rank Of commits.
stoned officers if they are rendered unfit for
active service and unable TO earn their sub.
+ sstence.
These disability pensions are given without
regard 10 length Of service and merely upon
the incuuence Of tho disability itself They
resemble our own closely, except ia the amounts
/ allowed aud ln the very important fact that Il